Trustees approve new fire chief

December 13, 2012

Austintown Trustees voted to accept Andy Frost III as the township's new fire chief at Monday's meeting. The meeting was attended by a large crowd of family, firefighters and friends.

Chairman Dave Ditzler told Frost III, "Just as when you became assistant chief, it's good to know that someone with your abilities is moving into the chief's position."

He said Frost III has been instrumental in securing numerous grants for the department. He said over the years those grants were second to none in the county.

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Photo by J.T. Whitehouse, Town CrierRetired Austintown Fire Chief Andy Frost Jr. had the distinct honor of pinning the chief’s badge on his son, Andy Frost III following the official vote by trustees to install him as Austintown’s new fire chief. Andy III had been serving as interim chief following his dad’s retirement a few months back.

Trustee Lisa Oles said, "When the three fire levies passed, it was a reflection on the good job Andy III and his department do."

Trustee Jim Davis said, "Austintown Fire Department has the best chief in the county, no doubt about it."

Following the swearing in by Township Administrator Mike Dockry, retired fire Chief Andy Frost Jr. had the honors of pinning the chief's badge on his son's uniform.

"I couldn't be much prouder in my life than I am right now," he said. "As a father I am proud, as a fire chief I am proud, and as an Austintown resident I am proud."

Following the official oath of office and comments, the new fire chief accepted a donation. Several members of the Coupe Cruisers car club that puts on the Sunday cruises at Quaker Steak and Lube, presented the fire department with a check for $3,600 that represented the proceeds from this year's cruises. Andy III said the fire department will take the entire amount and use it to help Austintown families with children who are in need this Christmas.

During public speaking, Jo Anne Jordan spoke on the recent funeral of her late husband Carl, owner of Carl's Towing. She said the entire township had come together in her time of grief and the funeral procession had 33 area tow trucks in it.

"We had more tow trucks than cars," she said. "It was very moving."

She thanked all the township officials and safety forces as well as several businesses for helping her and her family last week. She said the way everyone came together was what makes Austintown such a special place.

Ditzler replied, "Carl was the kind of person you could always count on when it came to helping others."

She said her husband was a second generation for the business and that her son C.J. would be the third generation to move Carl's towing forward.

In other business:

Davis thanked Joyce Pogany for another fine job of putting on the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Wickliffe Circle last week.

Dockry noted that Idaho Road now has a center-left turn lane that motorists should be aware of. He said the lines were marked last week and it is a change in traffic flow.

Andrea Paventi, director of Mahoning County Treatment Alternatives for Street Crimes thanked Ditzler for his years of service as a board member. She presented him with an engraved desk clock.

Frost III informed trustees of an $80,000 equipment grant the fire department will be receiving. He said he had to wait for the levies to pass to insure his department could make the match.

Trustees approved four nuisance ordinances and two junk vehicle declarations along with a motion for the removal (demolition) of a single-family dwelling and attached garage at 5490 Lou Ida Blvd. The dwelling was declared structurally defective by the Austintown fire inspector.

A motion was approved to appoint police Chief Bob Gavalier and Dockry to the Council of Government Board with Boardman Township to oversee and operate the township communication system.

A motion was approved to send a letter to the Mahoning County Township Association to request Trustee Jim Davis replace Ditzler on the Land Bank Board effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Dockry noted that due to Christmas Eve on the fourth Monday of the month, the township meeting will be moved back to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20.